Scripture: Philippians 2:25-30

We continue our look at how Jesus might have been seen in his culture, moving from a faith healer (wonderworker) to another title some gave him: Rabbi (Teacher). In Matthew 21-22, we see Jesus at the Temple, overthrowing the moneychangers’ tabl...

Much of David’s imagery in Psalms comes from the desert: God as Rock (above flooding wadis), Fortress (masada - protection from enemies), Shade at your right hand (sustaining life in intense heat). But the most important image for God in the de...

There are two issues that might get in the way of people’s reading of this morning’s story. One is the impossibility of the miraculous, given the scientific understandings of the modern era. But there is nothing irrational about miracles if you...

Imagine you are a Gospel writer of the 1st century and you have the task of convincing people that this rabbi Yeshua is not just another claiming to be Messiah; he really is! Thankfully God has given you a lot to work with. He has shown how his...

As we noted last week, God’s covenant with Abraham, which was renewed with Moses & Israel, involved a promise of land. This land is described fifteen times in the Torah as “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Not having grown up in the Mid...

Scripture: Philippians 2:14- 18  

We move from the first steps into the land of Canaan to the founding of the biblical nation of Israel. We may ask ourselves on occasion, what’s the big deal with the Middle East conflict we constantly hear about? Israelis and Palestinians fight...

Today is Cadet Sunday, and in keeping with their theme, we will explore Paul’s training of and instruction to Timothy. Timothy was special to Paul and he takes time to help him in the faith and even move him into the role of pastor for one of t...

Scripture: Phillippians 2:12-13

Last week we looked at Jesus as child in the Jerusalem Temple, ready to be about Father’s business. But the time isn’t right, so Jesus goes back to his parents’ home in Nazareth and is obedient to them. From his parents, not through traveling w...

This New Year we are going to learn about the land of Israel, its features and reasons God brought his people there. We’ll also look at some lessons from the land itself. Since the people of Israel entered the land in the book of Joshua, we are...

Over the next couple of months, we will focus on an exploration of “Jesus our Jewish Messiah,” with the underlying premise that to understand Jesus and his teaching more fully, we need to understand who he was within culture of day. One of the ...

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Scripture: Phillippians 2:5-11

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-11

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

What does it mean, according to Frederick Buechner, “that the Creator of the ends of the earth came among us in diapers”? What did that mean for him? We’ve explored various Christmas characters during this Advent season, asking the question: ho...

Have you ever played “Dutch Bingo?” When among Dutch-CRC people, it doesn’t take long before the name-game begins: Are you related to …? Do you know …? And it is only a matter of time before … BINGO! Once your ancestry is established (through y...

In Rome, Caesar Augustus is “Lord” (according to his subjects). In Jerusalem, Herod is “King of the Jews” (by title given by the Roman senate). In the Temple, the priests are awaiting the “Christ/Messiah” (or should be). So who would be the bes...

The Lord’s Prayer mostly deals with our relationship to God, without much outside interference. But in this last petition, he deals with the force of evil, which can have a negative influence on our lives (from outside, but also within). This i...

When God wanted to reveal what he was doing in the incarnation of his Son, what would you expect would be the most likely chain of revelation? You can imagine the Creator of the universe would have it just as carefully orchestrated. Perhaps sur...

Scripture: Phillipians 1:19-26

We continue to ask in this Advent season: how far was it to Bethlehem? In this story, we will visit the place where the Messiah is born, and we are joined by some strange characters.  Pagan astrologers chart our path, at least in the begin...